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Statistics provided by Calgary Transit show crime on C-Trains and at stations dropped across the board last year, making LRT commuters the safest they’ve been since officials began reporting the numbers in 2007.

The most significant dent in reported offences saw vehicle crime drop from 847 incidents in 2007 to 188 incidents a year ago.

Ald. Ray Jones, whose northeast ward includes several LRT stations, acknowledges the noteworthy drop, adding the decline in parking lot crimes says a lot about safety of the system.

“It is probably the increase of transit officers and making them more visible at the LRT stations that has (made the vehicle crime drop) possible,” he said.

“It obviously is working.”

But while the progress is encouraging, Calgary Transit safety coordinator Brian Whitelaw said the focus is now on minimizing violent crime.

“Parking lot crime has progressed so much, so new strategies to prevent vehicle crime are unnecessary,” he said.

“What we are focused on now are strategies to address crimes of violence.

“That’s really our number-one priority.”

Crimes against individuals along LRT lines dropped to 224 in 2012, the second lowest number over the six-year period tracked by Calgary Transit.

In 2011, there were 261 crimes reported against rail commuters, with 65% of those consisting of assaults, assault on peace officers and robbery.

Whitelaw predicts that incidents will be “extremely low” this year, especially when it comes to the new West LRT line.

“If we (are able) impact the number of person crimes, that is what we plan to do.” Whitelaw said.

Jones says that safety is one of the key things that the city considers when planning for future developments.

“As we renovate the older stations you will see improvements, especially on the northeast leg,” Jones said.

“We already (have renovated) the Whitethorn LRT, we are renovating Rundle, then Marlborough and so on until downtown.

“As we are upgrading stations, and spending enough money, hopefully citizens appreciate the fact that we are trying to keep them as safe as possible.”

According to 2011 LRT safety statistics, the south LRT leg accounted for 40% of all LRT crime, followed by the northeast at 26%, the northwest at 15% in the northwest, and 13% downtown.

The remaining 6% of incidents were unclassified.

Whitelaw said passengers can help reduce crime by reporting it.

“We have peace officers distributed throughout the system — if you see something’s please report it,” he said.

“If we are not at a location that it is being reported from we will typically intercept a train and try to deal with the problem at that point.”

Whitelaw suggested LRT passengers who feel unsafe should get off at the next stop, switch cars on the same LRT line and notify the Calgary Transit by either hitting the help button or calling 403-262-1000.

Crime plummeting on Calgary's LRT system

Statistics provided by Calgary Transit show crime on C-Trains and at stations dropped across the board last year, making LRT commuters the safest they’ve been since officials began reporting the numbers in 2007.

The most significant dent in reported offences saw vehicle crime drop from 847 incidents in 2007 to 188 incidents a year ago.